Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs Minnesota
Illinois is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Minnesota, Minnesota has higher incomes, Illinois has lower state income tax, and Illinois has the warmer climate.
Illinois
11
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Minnesota
19
/ 30
metrics won
MN wins Housing
MN wins Quality of Life
MN wins Income
IL wins Climate
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
vs
Minnesota
winner
Minnesota scores higher on quality of life — 4.09 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Illinois is 4.3 points cheaper overall
Illinois has the lower cost-of-living index. Illinois is at 95.2, while Minnesota is at 99.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.03 further in Minnesota
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.32 of local buying power in Minnesota, versus $104.29 in Illinois.
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Income
Minnesota income is 7.5% higher
Minnesota has the higher median household income at $84,313, compared with $78,433 in Illinois.
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Jobs
Illinois minimum wage is $4.15 higher
Illinois has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $10.85/hr in Minnesota.
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Housing
Minnesota homes cost about 1.2x more
Illinois has the lower median home value at $247,500, versus $293,200 in Minnesota.
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Taxes
Illinois has lower state income tax
Illinois has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.95%, compared with 9.85% in Minnesota.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Illinois
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Minnesota
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 9.8%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (97.6 for Illinois, 95.5 for Minnesota). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Illinois
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Illinois
- Illinois has a lower overall cost of living.
- Illinois has a lower housing cost index.
- Illinois has lower median home values.
Cons
- Illinois shows lower median income.
- Illinois has higher property tax rates on average.
- Illinois has a higher violent crime rate.
- Illinois job growth trend is weaker.
- Illinois health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Illinois health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Minnesota
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Minnesota
- Minnesota shows higher median income.
- Minnesota has lower property tax rates on average.
- Minnesota has a lower violent crime rate.
- Minnesota job growth trend is stronger.
- Minnesota health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Minnesota health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Minnesota has a higher overall cost of living.
- Minnesota has a higher housing cost index.
- Minnesota has higher median home values.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
MN
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Saint Paul |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
5,706,494
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$84,313
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
99.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$293,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
1.02%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
9.85%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$10.85/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.572/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
14.98 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
58.69
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
41.2°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
95 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
86,936 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
65.6 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
May 11, 1858 (#32)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
16
shown
Saving Money
Illinois is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 95.2 vs 99.5 in Minnesota. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Minnesota is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.572/gal in Minnesota vs $4.294/gal in Illinois. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Illinois has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Illinois vs $10.85/hr in Minnesota. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Minnesota has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.98 c/kWh in Minnesota vs 16.36 c/kWh in Illinois. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Illinois is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.16x in Illinois vs 3.48x in Minnesota. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Minnesota is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 16.6% in Minnesota vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Illinois has a larger population than Minnesota by 7,106,014 people.
Population Density
Illinois is more densely populated than Minnesota.
Bachelor's Degree
Minnesota has a higher college-educated share than Illinois.
Advanced Degree
Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Minnesota.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Minnesota - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Minnesota?
Illinois has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Illinois scores 95.2 versus 99.5 for Minnesota - a gap of 4.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Minnesota?
$100 goes further in Minnesota. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $107.32 in Minnesota, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Minnesota?
Minnesota is larger, covering 86,936 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.5x the size.
Q Does Illinois or Minnesota have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 5,706,494 in Minnesota.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Minnesota?
Minnesota has the higher median household income at $84,313, versus $78,433 in Illinois.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Minnesota?
Illinois has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.95%, compared with 9.85% in Minnesota.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Minnesota?
Homes are cheaper in Illinois, where the median home value is $247,500, versus $293,200 in Minnesota.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Minnesota?
Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Minnesota is more spread out at 65.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.